Murder and Manslaughter

Murder

Murders and attempted murders take many forms: shootings, stabbings, homophobic attacks, honour killings, poisoning, or simply the use of fists or boots to cause severe injury or death. These are examples of serious offences that we have dealt with and are dealing with now.

To be guilty of murder you must intend to kill, or to cause grievous ("really serious") bodily harm. It must be proved that the death was not due to your use of reasonable force in self-defence or for preventing a crime.

Everyone convicted of murder is sentenced to life imprisonment, with either a set minimum number of years before you will be considered for release, or a direction that "life means life". If you are tried for murder and acquitted, you may be convicted of manslaughter instead if the facts support this.

Manslaughter

Manslaughter covers a wide range of circumstances, ranging from near-murder to near-accidental death. The range of penalties for manslaughter is equally wide, but prison is almost inevitable.

What would otherwise be murder may be manslaughter if the killing was due to provocation or was part of a suicide pact, or the accused person was suffering from "diminished responsibility" due to a mental disorder.

Causing someone's death without meaning to kill or because of a serious injury can be manslaughter. This may be if the death was due to really serious carelessness by someone who was under a duty to take care ("gross negligence"), or an unlawful act which all reasonable people would realise would involve a risk of harm.

Corporate Manslaughter

Corporate manslaughter is, broadly speaking, killing caused by gross negligence on the part of an organisation, such as a railway company or a police force. It is punishable only by a fine.

Causing or Allowing the Death of a Child or Vulnerable Adult

Where a child or vulnerable adult has died and at least one member of the household might have caused the death, any member of the household can be convicted of allowing the death even if it cannot be proved which of them caused it.

To be guilty of this offence, it is necessary to have failed to take reasonable steps to protect the child or vulnerable adult from a significant risk of serious physical harm. The maximum penalty is 14 years in prison.

Criminal Defence

Our criminal law team is larger than most. This means we can handle the largest or smallest cases effectively, and gives us a wide range of experience. Whatever kind of case you are involved in, it is unlikely to be new to us and you can be confident we will know the best way to help you.

Drugs Offences and Trafficking

Drugs charges range from simple possession of cannabis, through providing drugs to customers in night clubs, to supplying crack cocaine on the streets to feed a drug habit, smuggling drugs into prisons, importing drugs from abroad, and large-scale cultivation or manufacture and distribution.

Burglary, Theft and Handling Stolen Goods

Theft

Firearms, Knives and Weapons

Firearms

British gun control is among the strictest in the world. In general, it is an offence to have a gun of any kind unless you have a firearm certificate from the police, or you are a registered firearms dealer. To get a certificate you need a good reason to have the gun, you must satisfy character checks, and you must comply with strict conditions about storing it.

Fraud

Motoring Offences

Over a third of defendants in magistrates' courts are charged with motoring offences, and motoring is probably the setting in which most people come into direct contact with the police and the criminal justice system.

Murder and Manslaughter

Murder

Murders and attempted murders take many forms: shootings, stabbings, homophobic attacks, honour killings, poisoning, or simply the use of fists or boots to cause severe injury or death. These are examples of serious offences that we have dealt with and are dealing with now.

Organised Crime, Conspiracy and Robbery

We have acted for clients accused of organised jewellery robberies, cash delivery robberies, offences involving the distribution of drugs, and conspiracy to defraud. We have the expertise and experience necessary to deal with all types of serious criminal charges.

Prison Law

Being in prison can be distressing for both you and your loved ones. QualitySolicitors Amphlett Lissimore works with prisoners and their families to ensure legal rights and privileges are looked after.

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QualitySolicitors Amphlett Lissimore is a practising style of Amphlett Lissimore Bagshaws LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England with register number OC356781. Our VAT number is 237 5879 19. Our services are provided by solicitors of England and Wales and we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. You can find the SRA's rules on its website.

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By ticking the box and submitting this form, you confirm you have read and accept our terms & conditions.

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By ticking the box you give explicit consent to the processing of, where relevant, your data under special categories.

When you click ‘Submit’, you consent to providing all related details of your enquiry and that these details will be passed to a QualitySolicitors Partner Firm to get in contact. If you do not understand any items, please contact us.